Congress Works on Short Extensions, Considers Long-Term Solutions - November 30, 2010

Both chambers continue the lame duck session of Congress this week after returning from a one-week recess in observance of Thanksgiving. On Monday, Nov. 29, the House passed a one-month extension of Medicare’s “Doc Fix,” following Senate passage before the Thanksgiving holiday. The Doc Fix extension averts a 23 percent decrease in Medicare physician payment that would have otherwise occurred on Dec. 1. Congress is expected to pass a two-week Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue to fund the federal government after the current CR expires on Dec. 1. Congressional Democrats are pushing for passage of a Fiscal Year 2011 omnibus spending package or a long term CR, funding the government through the end of the fiscal year – Sept. 30, 2011. Republicans are pushing for a shorter CR, funding the government into early 2011 and allowing a new House Republican majority to shape the remainder of FY 2011 funding. Both sides are meeting at the White House on Tuesday to discuss this issue along with several others including extensions of expiring tax cuts and a nuclear arms limitation treaty.

While the lame duck session has seen very little legislative progress so far, the Senate passed a landmark food safety bill this week. If the Senate is successful, House leaders have signaled that they will likely pass the Senate version immediately, avoiding a need to reconcile the Senate bill with one passed by the House earlier this year.